To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2024.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the Environment, Climate Change and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 5 December 2024 as a correct record.

Report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development)

This report provides an update for the committee on the emerging Manchester Local Plan.

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development) that provided an update on the emerging Manchester Local Plan.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background, noting that the Local Plan guided decisions on future development proposals and addressed the needs and opportunities of the area;

·         Providing a brief summary of the recently updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), focusing on the aspects of particular relevance to the Local Plan;

·         A brief summary of the existing policy framework contained in the adopted Core Strategy to note how specific issues were currently considered;

·         Consideration of the Places for Everyone Joint Local Plan, noting that the emerging Manchester Local Plan needed to include an evaluation as to where existing policy might continue to be fit for purpose; and where revised or new policies would be appropriate; and

·         Key policy aspects that were being considered within the emerging Local Plan.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         Commenting that the document referenced within the report, ‘Net Zero New Buildings: Shaping Manchester’s Local Plan’ was a very useful document and enquiring if the 7 recommendations within that report would be adopted;

·         How would the Local Plan influence neighbourhood planning and design, noting issues arising relating to waste management, car parking and pavement parking as a result of intensification;

·         More information was sought in relation to Affordable Housing and the specific references to looked after children;

·         Planning should allow for existing domestic properties to be developed to support families to remain living in their homes;

·         What powers existed to ensure that any adaptations to existing domestic properties were appropriate and met energy standards;

·         What were the transitional arrangements to ensure best practice was adopted by developers; 

·         How would any changes announced by Government be incorporated into the developing Local Plan;

·         Information was sought in relation to the West Gorton Sponge Park;

·         Was there any intention to review the land identified as green belt; and

·         Did the expertise exist within the Council to assess the statements provided by developers to demonstrate how carbon emissions would be minimised.

The Planning and Infrastructure Manager said that the Planning Department had been closely involved with the development of the ‘Net Zero New Buildings: Shaping Manchester’s Local Plan’ report and the intention was to consider how the recommendations contained within could be adopted across a range of policies. He said that the Local Plan would be subject to a viability appraisal to test the recommendations and where they could not be incorporated the reasons for that would be articulated.

The Planning and Infrastructure Manager said that the issue of neighbourhood intensification was acknowledged, and they were working closely with colleagues across the Neighbourhood Teams as this work progressed. With reference to the specific question relating to looked after children he advised that further information would be provided outside of the meeting.

The Planning and Infrastructure Manager said that in regard to assessing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive

This report provides an update and overview of progress made in delivering the Council’s refreshed Climate Change Action Plan during Quarter 1 and 2 2024-25 (April – September 2024).

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive that provided an update and overview of progress made in delivering the Council’s refreshed Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) during Quarter 1 and 2 2024-25 (April – September 2024).

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background;

·         Key achievements in the reporting period; and

·         Progress update on development of the CCAP 2025-30.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         Would the remaining target of a 16.5% emissions reduction of the current 5-year carbon budget be met;

·         What were the lessons learnt that would inform the next five year CCAP;

·         Welcoming that Manchester had launched an initiative to become the world’s first “Carbon Literate City” as part of the drive to become zero carbon by 2038;

·         Further information was sought in relation to Carbon Literacy training and the aim to train the equivalent of 15% of the city’s population, 85,349 people to become certified as Carbon Literate;

·         Information was requested on the “Bee Cup” scheme;

·         Noting the positive engagement with schools and young people as part of the European city of cycling programme of activities and what was the legacy of this work;

·         Did the Council and other relevant partners work with local schools and colleges to promote green skills and jobs to support and deliver the scale of housing retrofit work that would be required;

·         What had happened to the 100 duvets collected by the Council’s Neighbourhood Teams as part of the reported coordinated initiative to reduce waste; and

·         Behaviour change amongst residents was important to contribute to addressing climate change and this needed to be supported by appropriate communications with residents.

The Strategic Lead – Resources & Programmes stated that the modelling indicated that the current 5-year carbon budget would be achieved. He said that in the event of this not being achieved any outstanding carbon budget would be incorporated into the overall remaining target for 2038. He stated that the lessons learnt that would be incorporated into the next five year plan would be discussed in detail during the next agenda item.

The Principal Resources & Programmes Officer provided a brief summary of how the Council’s carbon budget had been set and targets proportioned to 2038. She acknowledged that targets would be testing going forward towards 2038 but said that the initial actions were important to deliver as they would continue to contribute to the overall Council’s emissions reduction.

The Zero Carbon Manager said that the “Bee Cup” was a reusable cup scheme, launched in September 2024 by the University of Manchester, in partnership with In Our Nature and Manchester City Council. Several locations on campus and along Oxford Road now offered customers the use of Bee Cups for free (if returned within 14 days). She said an evaluation exercise would be undertaken of the scheme and the findings of this would be circulated to Members when available.

The Zero Carbon Manager said that the aim to achieve 15% of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive

This report provides an update on the development of the next Manchester City Council Climate Change Action Plan for the period 2025-30.

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive that provided an update on the development of the next Manchester City Council Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) for the period 2025-30.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background;

·         A Manchester City Council CCAP for the period 2025-30 was in development, led by the Council’s Zero Carbon Team within City Policy engaging with colleagues across all Council Directorates;

·         Consideration of national, regional and local policy and funding context;

·         The CCAP 2025-30 would include Council actions addressing two key areas, Zero Carbon Council and Zero Carbon City;

·         Consideration of the draft actions, noting that the actions across the CCAP were being developed with Action Owners to be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timebound); and

·         The approval process and timeline for the 2025-30 CCAP.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         Fully endorsing the report and the planned activity described;

·         What were the lessons learned from the 2020-25 CCAP that would inform and strengthen the 2025-30 CCAP;

·         Welcoming the inclusion of the Zero Carbon Finance & Investment Sub Group, chaired by the City Treasurer as part of the governance structure;

·         Had consideration been given to convening a citizens assembly on the subject of climate change; and

·         What work was being done to influence other public sector organisations, such as Health Services and Schools (particularly in relation to buildings and people) to develop and adopt similar plans to address their own carbon emissions.

The Strategic Director, Growth & Development stated that the issue of governance across this work was recognised as very important across all Directorates, noting that whilst the Deputy Chief Executive was the Senior Responsible Officer for the CCAP, all Directors had taken responsibility for their relevant work stream and that they communicated regularly on this activity. She commented that the next CCAP would have a greater emphasis on climate adaptation and resilience.

The Deputy Chief Executive stated that the challenge to remain within the Council’s carbon budget and meet the 2038 target was fully acknowledged and understood. He said that the report demonstrated how seriously the organisation took this challenge and the planning and work that was being developed to continue the work to remain with the allocated carbon budget. He said that the foundations to progress this work, including sound and robust governance arrangements had been established in the first five year plan. He said that appropriate consideration would be given to ensure the new plan was deliverable and affordable. He said that the relationship with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Manchester Climate Change Agency/ Partnership remained very important so as to speak as one voice to drive change and utilise all levers for change. He also spoke to the importance of wider behaviour change and the importance of effective and meaningful communication on the issue of climate change with residents; the importance of working with education settings the positive relationship the Director of Education had with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

This is a monthly report, which includes the recommendations monitor, relevant key decisions, the Committee’s work programme. The Manchester City Council Climate Change Action Plan Q2 emissions report is appended for information.

The report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment. Members were also invited to agree the Committee’s future work programme.

The Manchester City Council Climate Change Action Plan Q2 emissions report was appended for information.

Decision

The Committee notes the report and agrees the work programme.